Chain door lock

ABSTRACT

A door lock including a chain, means for detachably connecting one end of the chain to a door, and a housing for affixation to the door jamb having an opening for receiving a member on the other end of the chain and releasably securing the latter in the housing, the chain being releasable from the housing by key lock means accessible through the doorway.

United States Patent Schwartz et al.

[ 51 3,657,908 [4 1 Apr. 25, 1972 [54] CHAIN DOOR LOCK [72] Inventors: Jerome Schwartz; Ryszard Szatkowski,

both of Philadelphia, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Taylor Lock Company, Philadelphia, Pa.

[22] Filed: June 2, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 42,787

52 us. 01. ..70/93, 70/379 A, 292/124 51 Int. Cl ..E05b 65/06, EOSc 17/36 58 Field or Search ..70/93, 379 A; 292/264 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,071,958 H1963 Russo ..70/93 3,125,375 3/1964 Friedman ..70/93 1,316,327 9/1919 Rixson ..70/379 A UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 6,448 1912 Great Britain ..70/93 25,772 1912 Great Britain..... .292/264 319,545 3/1920 Germany ..70/93 Primary E.ran1inerAlbert G. Craig, .I r. A t!orneyRobert K. Youtie l ABSTRACT A door lock including a chain, means for detachably connecting one end of the chain to a door, and a housing for affixation to the door jamb having an opening for receiving a member on the other end of the chain and releasably securing the latter in the housing, the chain being releasable from the housing by key lock means accessible through the doorway.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 'I'IIII'I,

r IIIIII' PATENTEDAPR 25 I972 657, 908

sum 10F 2 INVENTORS.

JEROME SCHWARTZ RYSZARD SZATKOWSKI ATTORNEY PATENTEnAPnzs I972 3,657, 908

sum 2 OF 2 INVENTORS.

JEROME SCHWARTZ RYSZARD SZATKOWSKI ATTORNEY.

CHAIN DOOR LOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I relatively expensive to manufacture, large and bulky in size so as to be incapable of use with modern, narrow jamb doorway construction, and have presented considerable difficulty in obtaining access to the key slot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a chain door lock of the type described which uniquely minimizes space requirements for use with narrow door jambs, is of enhanced security while substantially reduced in cost, and which affords enhanced convenience in access to the key slot.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a chain door lock having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which permits of use with a conventional chain link releasably retained in the jamb mounted housing.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a chain door lock of greatly simplified construction, wherein a swingable latch member cooperates with a rotatable key lock cylinder for effecting releasable retention of a door chain link or the like.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view illustrating a chain door lock of the instant invention in its operative association with a door and doorjamb.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generallyalong the line 2--2 of FIG 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating the chain release mode of operation.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view, partly in section, taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating a slightly modified embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OFTHE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, a door is there generally designated 10, being swingable into its illustrated closed position proximate to a door jamb 11 on a wall 12. A chain door lock is generally designated 15, and is shown in solid lines in locked position in FIG. 1, the phantom position in dot-anddash outline illustrating release or opening of the chain door lock.

More particularly, the chain door lock 15 includes a chain 16, and detachably connected at one end of the chain 16 is connection means 17 mounted on the door 10 for detachable connection to the chain. Mounted on the door jamb 11 is a housing, generally designated 18, to which the other end of chain 16, remote from connection means 17, is releasably secured.

The detachable connection means 17 may include a slideway 20 having an elongate slot 21 terminating a one end,

remote from the door jamb 11, in an enlargement or enlarged opening 22. The slideway 20 is suitably affixed to the door 10, as by fasteners 23.

The chain 16 may include ovaloid or elongate links, of conventional construction, and carried by one end link is a slide member 25, which may be of generally cylindrical configuration and provided on one end with an enlargement, knob or head 26 for engagement through opening 22 and retaining engagement with the inner side of slot 21, as in the condition illustrated in FIG. 1.

Connected at the other end of chain 16 is an end member 27, which may be of generally ovaloid configuration and provided at its distal end with a longitudinal slot 28, for a purpose appearing presently.

The housing 18 includes upper and lower end Walls 30 and 31, and a pair of side walls extending in laterally spaced relation between theupp'er and lower end walls, as at 32 and 33. Extending between the forward ends of the upper and lower walls 30 and 31 and side walls 32 and 33 is a front wall 34. The back side of the housing 18 may be open, and against the door jamb 11, being closed thereby. In practice, to minimize finishing costs and for added security, a fascia sheet or covering member 35 is wrapped about the front and side walls 34, 32 and 33, with its edge portions folded into the interior of the housing, as at 36 and 37. Extending upwardly and downwardly from the upper and lower end walls 30 and 31 are respective ears 38 and 39, having through holes for receiving fasteners, such as screws 40.

In a lower region of the front wall 34, there is formed a laterally elongate through slot 41, spaced between the side walls 32 and 33, and the cover sheet, see FIG. 3, is cut out at 42, in registry with the opening or slot 41.

Interiorly of the housing 18 is a generally flat, plate-like latch member 43, located in a generally lower region of the housing and mounted therein for swinging movement in a generally vertical plane in parallel space relation between the side walls 32 and 33. More specifically, the generally flat latch member 43 is mounted for swinging movement about a horizontally disposed pivot member or pin 44, being normal to the latter, which pin extends laterally between the lower rear regions of side walls 32 and 33. For example, as best seen in FIG. 6, pin 44 extends laterally between and has its opposite ends mounted in through openings 45 and 46 formed in walls 32 and 33 respectively, which openings are closed by overlying portions of cover sheet 35..It will be seen that this permits of quick and easy assembly by insertion of pin 44 simultaneously through latch member 43 and into its supporting formations 45 and 46. The platelike latch member is configured to define a hook or catch 47 which extends downwardly into position immediately behind or inward of the front wall opening 41, 42. Immediately behind the downwardly extending hook or catch 47, the latch member 43 is provided with a downwardly opening cutout or notch 43. In addition, the latch member 43 is provided with a forwardly and upwardly extending projection 50 which is spaced angularly with respect to the catch 47 about the axis of pin 44. Suitable resilient means, such as a coil torsion spring 51 may be engaged about the pin 44 having its opposite ends respectively engageable with the latch 43 and housing 18 to resiliently urge the latch clockwise, as seen in FIG. 2. It will there be apparent that the chain end member 28 has been inserted through the opening 41, being received into the housing 18 in position for engagement of the hook or catch 47 downwardly into the opening 28 of the chain end member. Further, by the substantially aligned relationship of the direction of force upon attempted withdrawal of the chain end member 27 radially of the pivotal axis 44, or an overcenter relationship thereof, the hook or catch 47 serves to positively retain the chain end member 27in received relation in the housing 18. Of course, the spring 51 aids in retaining the latch 43 in holding relationship with the received chain end member 27. The forward surface or edge 52 of the hook or catch 47 extends across the path of movement of chain end member 27 inward through housing opening 41, and faces toward the opening. This surface or edge 52 is advantageously oblique or arcuately configured to ride over the leading edge of an end member 27 being inserted, against the resilient force of spring 51, for snap engagement downward through opening 28.

In an upper, forward interior region of housing 18, there is mounted key lock means 55, such as a cylinder lock of the pin tumbler, wafer, or other suitable type, including a rotary cylinder 56 mounted with its axis of rotation generally parallel to that of pin 44, and having a key slot at one end opening through an upper forward region of one housing side wall 33. As best seen in FIG. 1, the key slot 57 faces toward the doorway or door opening of door 10 for manual access therethrough. The cover sheet 35 is cut out or open, as at 58 in FIG. 4, aiding in retaining the cylinder 56 in position within the housing 18, while neatly framing the exposed cylinder end. Further, the rotary cylinder 56 of key lock 55 is provided interiorly of the housing 18, intermediate the ends of the cylinder, with a cutout 59 extending partially about the circumference of the cylinder, see FIGS. 2 and 3, and having a bottom wall 60 specifically configured for camming engagement with the latch member projection 50. That is, by operation of a key in slot 57, the cylinder 56 may be rotated in the clockwise direction, as from the initial position of FIG. 2 to the final position of FIG. 3, by which rotation the cam surface 60 of cutout 59, and the adjacent radial projection 61, serve to effect counterclockwise swinging movement of latch member 43 about pivot 44 against spring 51, to release chain end member 27 from catch 47. Of course, return of the key lock cylinder 56 in the counterclockwise direction effects return of the latch member 43 in the clockwise direction. In practice, the chain 16 permits opening of the door 10 sufficiently to afford manual access to the key lock 55 for insertion of a key into the key slot 57 to accomplish the above-described releasing operation, It will be appreciated further that the partial opening of the door 10, when the latch member 43 is moved to its releasing position of FIG. 3, serves to urge the chain end member 27 toward withdrawal from the housing 18.

The embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 is essentially identical to that of figs. l-4, except that the chain end member 27a consists of a chain link which has its central opening 280 corresponding to the opening 28 of the chain end member 27. That is, for purposes of economy, or under emergency circumstances, an ordinary chain link 27a may suitably serve for reception in the housing 18 and releasable retention therein. Further, if it is desired to lock the instant chain door lock without sufficient play to permit opening of the door this may be accomplished by merely inserting an intermediate link of chain 16 into the housing opening 41, with the chain drawn tight, rather than inserting a chain end member.

It will also be appreciated that the key lock cylinder 56, by

the formation intermediate its ends of cutout or slot 59 receiving latch member 43, is further effectively retained in position, so as to resist withdrawal of the key lock even upon tampering, say by enlargement of cover sheet opening 58 to a size greater than that of the key lock.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a chain door lock which is effective to accomplish its intended purposes, and otherwise fully meets practical conditions of manufacture, installation and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A chain door lock comprising chain connection means for attaching one end of a chain to a door, a chain having one end attached to a door by said connection means, a housing for mounting on a door jamb and having an opening facing away from the door jamb for receiving a chain member on the other end of said chain, a latch member mounted in said housing spaced laterally between opposite sides of said housing for rotation about a enerall horizontal first axis to move generally vertically into an out of holding engagement with a received chain member, a key lockcylinder mounted in said housing extending between opposite housing sides for rotation about a second axis generally parallel to said first axis, and operating formations formed on said cylinder spaced intermediate the ends thereof for movement in operative engagement with said latch member to effect movement of the latter into and out of said holding engagement, said latch member including a projection extending into said operating formations to positively resist longitudinal cylinder movement.

2. A chain door lock according to claim 1, said latch member being swingable up and down in said housing and comprising a catch swingable in one direction through said received chain member to releasably hold the latter in said housing.

3. A chain door lock according to claim 2, said first axis being located relative to said catch for positive holding engagement with said received chain member.

4. A chain door lock according to claim 3, in combination with spring means operatively connected to said latch member to urge said catch toward its position of holding engagement with said received chain member.

5. A chain door lock according to claim 3, said connection means comprising a slideway for mounting on a door, and a slide removably interengageable with said slideway.

6. A chain door lock according to claim 3, said other end chain member comprising a chain link engageable through said opening. I 

1. A chain door lock comprising chain connection means for attaching one end of a chain to a door, a chain having one end attached to a door by said connection means, a housing for mounting on a door jamb and having an opening facing away from the door jamb for receiving a chain member on the other end of said chain, a latch member mounted in said housing spaced laterally between opposite sides of said housing for rotation about a generally horizontal first axis to move generally vertically into and out of holding engagement with a received chain member, a key lock cylinder mounted in said housing extending between opposite housing sides for rotation about a second axis generally parallel to said first axis, and operating formations formed on said cylinder spaced intermediate the ends thereof for movement in operative engagement with said latch member to effect movement of the latter into and out of said holding engagement, said latch member including a projection extending into said operating formations to positively resist longitudinal cylinder movement.
 2. A chain door lock according to claim 1, said latch member being swingable up and down in said housing and comprising a catch swingable in one direction through said received chain member to releasably hold the latter in said housing.
 3. A chain door lock according to claim 2, said first axis being located relative to said catch for positive holding engagement with said received chain member.
 4. A chain door lock according to claim 3, in combination with spring means operatively connected to said latch member to urge said catch toward its position of holding engagement with said received chain member.
 5. A chain door lock according to claim 3, said connection means comprising a slideway for mounting on a door, and a slide removably interengageable with said slideway.
 6. A chain door lock according to claim 3, said other end chain member comprising a chain link engageable through said opening. 